Flight attendants are known to practice unusual habits and traditions during flights which may leave many puzzled. One such example is their use of a shorthand language which they use to communicate efficiently.

Another example is their positons they adopt during take-off and landing, which involves sitting on their hands, with one flight attendant revealing the inside secret for this. Turns out, it’s not because they’re attempting to keep their hands warm, which many may be inclined to think. In fact, flight attendants will move into this position once their safety belts are securely on and it comes down to potential emergencies.

Cabin crew are advised to sit in the brace position during take off, which includes sitting on your hands.

Flight attendant for Cebu Pacific in the Philippines, Henny Lim, discussed the important reason for the cabin crew’s position of sitting on their hands, which she further discussed to PEOPLE.

The position also involves having their palms facing up and also sitting upright, having their arms loose and putting their feet flat on the floor which is because of potential “unplanned emergencies”.

Lim explained: “The aim is to keep the body in a rigid pose, so that if there was any impact from an unplanned emergency, the body is less damaged.

“This keeps body movement restricted so that there is less chance of injury if there was an impact.”

Another flight attendant echoed these claims in a thread on Quora further elaborating how it helps protect them in “dangerous situations”.

Anusha Pratima said: “While we are seated on the jumpseat during taxing, take off, approach and landing, the crew must always be alert for any dangerous situations that may occur during the flight. Hence the importance of brace positions. 

“Brace positions restrict the movement of your limbs and spine which allows lesser damage to the body upon impact.”

New guidelines state that the brace position passengers are advised to undergo in the case of an emergency differs.

According to Simple Flying, passengers should “bend the upper torso well forward and place your head against the backrest of the seat in front” rather than sitting up straight like the cabin crew do.

Passengers are also told to “place hands flat to the left and right beside the head against the seat in front”.